從東京到倫敦，債券投資人對財政紀律的擔憂令市場緊張不安

Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

From Tokyo to London, bond investor fears over fiscal discipline leave markets on edge

Reuters - Yoruk Bahceli and Junko Fujita

Wed, September 3, 2025 at 2:39 a.m. PDT 4 min read

LONDON/TOKYO (Reuters) -A degree of calm settled on the world's biggest bond markets on Wednesday, but concerns about the fiscal health of big economies from Japan to Britain and France kept long-dated borrowing costs pinned near multi-year highs.

Worries about Japan's fiscal position were revived after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's close aide said he intended to resign from his post, pushing Japan's 30-year government bond yield to a record high well above 3%.

That came a day after borrowing costs, which set the tone for lending rates for corporates and consumers, rose sharply in France and Britain while sterling tumbled, too.

"The economic reforms needed to really cover increasing debt are lacking, and the capital market sees that," Deutsche Bank chief executive Christian Sewing said at a conference on Wednesday, referring to the selloff in long-dated bonds.

"That's why I always say that the capital market is a good reflection of the political reforms that need to be implemented. So we should take it as a bit of a warning and not just duck away and say that nothing will happen."

A reshuffle of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's top team of advisers on Monday renewed the focus on fiscal challenges given Britain's high levels of borrowing and slow growth. In France, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is expected to lose a Sept. 8 confidence vote he called in an attempt to win backing for an unpopular debt-reduction plan.

The U.S. Treasury market, considered the bedrock of the global financial system, meanwhile has also seen pressure from worries about high debt, the impact of tariffs on inflation and concern about the independence of the Federal Reserve.

Britain's 30-year gilt yields briefly touched their highest since 1998 at around 5.75% and were last down 7 basis points on the day as some stability returned to bond markets.

Speaking to a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, Bank of England chief Andrew Bailey said it was important not to put too much emphasis on 30-year borrowing costs as such long-dated bonds are not currently being used to raise funds.

Euro area bond yields fell too, although French 30-year borrowing costs held close to their highest levels since 2009 and German equivalents were near 14-year peaks.

 

PRESSURE EVERYWHERE

Rising yields are a headache for governments that face higher spending needs and already hefty debt-servicing costs, just as they prepare to issue more bonds and face political obstacles to their efforts to get budget deficits down.

Britain said on Wednesday it would deliver its budget on November 26, as investors continue to speculate about tax rises that could dampen economic growth.

U.S. 30-year Treasury yields meanwhile touched the closely watched 5% level that investors reckon hurts risk assets for the first time since mid-July.

When a bond's yield rises, its price falls.

Analysts said that fears the U.S. government may have to give up revenue from tariffs if they are deemed illegal have added to the pressure in the Treasury market.

"The current dynamic is further evidence that investor appetite for ultra-long paper clearly waned, not only from private investors but also from institutional players who typically provide a more stable demand base for this segment," said Dario Messi, head of fixed income research at Julius Baer.

Markets nevertheless calmed down as London trade progressed, with euro zone bond yields last lower on the day. U.S. and UK 30-year yields having retreated from their highs.

A hefty pace of bond sales this week had pressured markets on Tuesday, analysts noted.

Fred Repton, portfolio manager at Neuberger, said Tuesday marked a record day for European bond sales just after investors had ramped up their bets on U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts.

While that was likely a key driver of Tuesday's selloff, "market participants are again focused on deficits and political risk, and this theme is likely to continue far into the year," he said.

Translation

從東京到倫敦，債券投資人對財政紀律的擔憂令市場緊張不安

倫敦/東京（路透）— 週三，全球最大的幾個債券市場略顯平靜，但對從日本到英國和法國等大型經濟體財政健康狀況的擔憂，導致長期借貸成本維持在多年高點附近。

首相石破茂的親信表示有意辭職，這導致日本30年期公債殖利率升至遠超3%的歷史高位，再次引發了人們對日本財政狀況的擔憂。

此前一天，法國和英國的借貸成本大幅上升，而這借貸成本為企業和消費者的利率奠定基調，英鎊也大幅下跌。

德意志銀行首席執行官 Christian Sewing 週三在一次會議上就長期債券拋售表示： “我們缺乏真正處理不斷增長的債務而所需的經濟改革，資本市場也看到了這一點。”

“這就是為什麼我總是說，資本市場能夠很好地反映需要實施的政治改革。所以我們應該把它當作一個警示，而不是躲避，說什麼都不會發生。”

英國首相 Keir Starmer 的高級顧問團隊週一改組，鑑於英國的高借貸水平和緩慢的增長，人們再次關注財政挑戰。在法國，總理Francois Bayrou 預計將在9月8日的信任投票中落敗，他此前試圖為一項不受歡迎的減債計劃去贏取支持。

同時，被視為全球金融體系基石的美國國債市場也面臨著來自高債務擔憂、關稅對通膨的影響以及對聯邦儲備局獨立性的擔憂的壓力。

英國30年期英國公債殖利率一度觸及1998年以來的最高水平，約為5.75%，當日下跌7個基點，因債券市場有些回穩。

英格蘭銀行行長 Andrew Bailey 週三在國會一委員會發表演說時表示，重要的是不要過度強調30年期借款成本，因為目前此類長期債券並未用於融資。

歐元區公債殖利率也出現下跌，儘管法國30年期借款成本接近2009年以來的最高水平，德國30年期借款成本接近14年來的最高水準。

 

壓力無所不在

殖利率上升對那些面臨更高支出需求, 和面對本已高昂的償債成本的政府來說是一個令人頭疼的問題，而就在這時刻, 他們準備發行更多債券, 並準備去減低預算赤字而面臨政治阻力。

英國週三宣布將於11月26日公佈預算案，投資人仍在猜測英國增稅措施可能抑制經濟成長。

同時，美國30年期公債殖利率觸及備受關注的5%水平，投資人認為這是自7月中旬以來首次觸及該水平，對風險資產構成打擊。

債券收益率上升，價格下跌。

分析師表示，擔心美國政府如果關稅被視為非法，可能不得不放棄相關收入，加劇了美國國債市場的壓力。

Julius Baer固定收益研究主管Dario Messi表示: 「目前的情況進一步證明，投資者對超長期債券的興趣明顯減弱，不僅私人投資者，機構投資者也同樣如此，而機構投資者通常為這一領域提供較穩定的需求基礎」。

不過，隨著倫敦交易的進行，市場趨於平靜，歐元區債券殖利率當日持續走低。美國和英國30年期公債殖利率已從高點回落。

分析師指出，本週債券發行速度之快給週二的市場帶來了壓力。

Neuberger投資組合經理人Fred Repton 表示，週二創下了歐洲債券發行紀錄，而此前投資者加大了對聯儲局會降息的押注。

雖然這可能是周二拋售的主要驅動因素，但他表示: 「市場參與者再次關注赤字和政治風險，而這個主題可能會持續到今年年底」。

So, the U.S. 30-year Treasury yields have touched the closely watched 5% level. Analysts say that fears over the U.S. government may have to give up revenue from tariffs if they are deemed illegal by the court have added to the pressure over the Treasury market. Probable, market participants will continue to focus on deficits and political risk, and this theme is likely to continue until the year end. Apparently, some kind of  economic reforms are needed to deal with the increasing debts in many countries.

New Study Shows Modern Human Brain Chemistry May Have Retained a Competitive Advantage Over Ancient Hominin

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

現生人類の脳の化学組成、古代の人類に対して競争上の優位を保持か　新研究

2025.08.30 Sat posted at 17:20 JST

 （ＣＮＮ） 現代の人類は進化の生存者であり、世代を重ねるごとに繁栄を続けてきた一方、我々の古代の親戚は絶滅した。我々の脳の化学組成に関する新たな研究によれば、ホモ・サピエンス（現生人類）に特有の酵素が、絶滅した我々の最も近い親戚よりも効率的な水の探知能力を我々に与えた可能性が示唆されている。

約６０万年前、現生人類はネアンデルタール人やデニソワ人を生み出した系統から遺伝的に分岐した。これらは人類の系統樹において現生人類に最も近い親戚だ。分岐後のある時点で、アデニロコハク酸リアーゼ（ＡＤＳＬ）と呼ばれる酵素が現生人類で異なる進化を遂げた。この酵素の４８４個のアミノ酸からなる鎖において、４２９番目の位置にあるアラニンというアミノ酸がバリンに置き換えられた。これは小さな変化だが、現代の人間だけが持つＡＤＳＬの一種が誕生した。

この酵素は、ＤＮＡやＲＮＡの構成要素であるプリン体の生成に不可欠な成分だ。現代人でＡＤＳＬが欠損すると、多動性や攻撃性といった行動異常につながる可能性がある。科学者は、たった一つのアミノ酸の変化が我々の行動にどのような影響を与えるのかを調査した。研究結果は学術誌「米国科学アカデミー紀要（ＰＮＡＳ）」に掲載された。

沖縄科学技術大学院大学（ＯＩＳＴ）のヒト進化ゲノミクスユニットのシァンチュン・ジュ博士は「太古の昔からの小さな遺伝子変化が、我々を人間たらしめる脳の特徴の形成にどのように役立ったかを明らかにすることは非常に興味深い」と述べた。

 

水との親和性

これまでの研究では、現代人の変異したＡＤＳＬによって酵素の安定性が低下してプリン生成の効率が低下することが示されていた。それに比べると、ネアンデルタール人やデニソワ人が持っていたオリジナルのＡＤＳＬは特定のたんぱく質分子の合成をさらに効率的に行える。現生人類では、これらの分子は臓器、特に脳に蓄積する。

これが行動にどう影響するかを知るために、マウスを使った実験が行われた。マウスの一部は、人間のＡＤＳＬを模倣して、効率の低いＡＤＳＬを持つよう遺伝子操作された。

これらの「ヒト化」されたマウスと、改変されていない対照群のマウスを、まず１２日間にわたって徐々に水へのアクセスを制限し、その後、音と光で合図して水を飲めるようにする実験を行った。すると、ヒト型の酵素を持つ雌のマウスは、のどがかわいたときに水が供給される場所を、より頻繁に訪れることがわかった。

科学者は、この効率の低いバージョンのＡＤＳＬは水へのアクセスに肯定的な影響を与え、この重要な資源に対する現生人類の競争力を高めたのではないかと仮説を立てた。

二つ目の調査では、現代人類のゲノムを調べ、人間に特有の酵素を生成するＡＤＳＬ遺伝子に焦点を当てた。

研究では、少なくとも９７%の現代人が持つ遺伝子変異のクラスターを発見した。この変異はＡＤＳＬのＲＮＡ発現効率をさらに低下させ、行動への影響を増幅させる可能性がある。研究によれば、この遺伝子は、進化の過程で人間に有利とされたゲノム領域に位置しており、ＡＤＳＬ発現のこの変化が人間に何らかの利点をもたらした可能性が高いために受け継がれてきたことを示唆しているという。

シカゴ大学の人類遺伝学助教のマーナサ・ラガバン博士は「このような研究を通じて、現代人を独特たらしめる遺伝的変化を特定する段階から、それらの変化がどのように我々の独自性を形作ったのかを理解する段階へと移行しつつあることは、実に刺激的だ」と述べた。ラガバン氏は今回の研究に関与していない。

「この研究は、不安定な環境と限られた資源の中で、我々の祖先がどのようにしてネアンデルタール人やデニソワ人のような同時代の人々に対して優位に立つことができたのかという興味深い可能性を提起している」（ラガバン氏）

ネアンデルタール人のゲノムの全容は２０１０年に初めて解読され、その２年後にはデニソワ人のゲノムも解読された。アフリカやアジア、欧州にひろがる現代人の遺伝子データと比較することで、他のヒト族が絶滅する一方で現代人が成功するのに役立った可能性のある行動を特定している。

ＯＩＳＴのジュ氏は「現代人に起こった多くの変化が、我々の脳の発達と機能に影響を与えているという見方が、この研究によってさらに明確になった」と述べた。「これは、こうした変化を理解し、最終的にはそれらがどのように連携していくかを理解するための一歩になるだろう」

Translation

New Study Shows Modern Human Brain Chemistry May Have Retained a Competitive Advantage Over Ancient Hominin

2025.08.30 Sat Posted at 5:20 PM JST

(CNN) Modern humans were evolutionary survivors, thriving with each generation while our ancient relatives became extinct. A new study of our brain chemistry suggested that an enzyme unique to Homo sapiens (modern humans) may had given us a more efficient water-seeking ability than our closest extinct relatives.

Approximately 600,000 years ago, modern human genetically diverged from the lineage that gave rise to Neanderthals and Denisovans, our closest relatives on the human family tree. At some point after this divergence, an enzyme called adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL) evolved differently in modern humans. In respect of the enzyme's 484-amino acid chain, the amino acid alanine at position 429 was replaced by valine. This small change resulted in the creation of a type of ADSL unique to modern human.

This enzyme was essential for the production of purines, as the building blocks of DNA and RNA. Deficiency of ADSL in modern human could lead to behavioral abnormalities such as hyperactivity and aggression. Scientists investigated how a single amino acid change might affect our behavior. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Dr. Xiang-Chun Ju of the Human Evolutionary Genomics Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) said, "It is fascinating to understand how small genetic changes from ancient times helped shape the brain characteristics that define us as human."

Affinity to water

Previous research had shown that the mutated ADSL in modern human would reduce the enzyme's stability, making purine synthesis less efficient. In comparison, the original ADSL possessed by Neanderthals and Denisovans allowed for more efficient synthesis of certain protein molecules. In modern human, these molecules accumulated in organs, particularly the brain.

To understand how this affected behavior, experiments were conducted using mice. Some of the mice were genetically engineered to have a less efficient ADSL, mimicking the human ADSL.

In the experiment the "humanized" mice, along with unmodified control mice, were first gradually deprived of water over a 12-day period, and then were given access to water using sound and light cues. Female mice with the human enzyme were found to visit water sources more frequently when thirsty.

The scientists hypothesized that this less efficient version of ADSL had a positive impact on access to water, this might have increased modern humans' competitiveness for this important resource.

In a second study, the researchers examined the genomes of modern human, focusing on the ADSL gene, which produced an enzyme unique to humans.

The study discovered a cluster of genetic mutations were present in at least 97% of modern humans. This mutation might further reduce the expression efficiency RNA of ADSL, amplifying its behavioral effects. Research suggested that this gene was located in a genomic region that was favorable in humans during evolution, indicating that this change in ADSL expression was likely inherited because it offered some advantage to humans.

" Through studies like this, we're moving from the stage in identifying genetic changes that made modern humans unique to the stage in understanding how those changes shaped our uniqueness, it's exciting " said Dr. Maanasa Raghavan, assistant professor of human genetics at the University of Chicago. Raghavan was not involved in the research.

"This work raises intriguing questions about how our ancestors, in an unstable environment and with limited resources, were able to gain an advantage over contemporaries like Neanderthals and Denisovans," Raghavan said.

The Neanderthal genome was first fully sequenced in 2010, followed two years later by the Denisovan genome. By comparing genetic data from modern humans across Africa, Asia, and Europe, the researchers identified behaviors that might have helped modern humans succeed while other hominin groups became extinct.

OIST's Dr. Ju said, "This study further solidifies the view that many of the changes that have occurred in modern humans are affecting the development and function of our brains"; "This will be a step toward understanding these changes and ultimately how they work together."

              So, modern human are evolutionary survivors and thrive with each generation while our ancient relatives become extinct. A new study suggests that an enzyme unique to Homo sapiens may have given modern human a more efficient water-detecting ability than our closest extinct relatives.

Note:

1. Adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL) is a crucial enzyme in the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway. It executes two β-elimination reactions: converting adenylosuccinate into AMP (adenosine monophosphate) and fumarate, and likewise transforming SAICAR (succinylaminoimidazole carboxamide ribotide) into AICAR (aminoimidazole carboxamide ribotide) and fumarate. (ChatGPT)

2. Gene expression is the process by which information encoded in a gene is used to produce a functional product—this can be messenger RNA (mRNA), other functional RNA molecules (like tRNA or lncRNA), or proteins. (ChatGPT)

3. A genomic region refers to any defined segment of the genome—typically specified by its chromosomal location (e.g., chromosome number, start and end positions). This could encompass one or more genes, regulatory elements, repeat sequences, and more. (ChatGPT)

揭開我們祖先直立行走的基因（2/2）

Recently the NY Times picked up the following:

Uncovering the Genes That Let Our Ancestors Walk Upright (2/2)

(Source: The NYT)

A new study reveals some of the crucial molecular steps on the path to bipedalism.

Origins - By Carl Zimmer who covers news about science for The Times and writes the Origins column.

Aug. 27, 2025

(continue)

Dr. Senevirathne and her colleagues found that primates develop the ilium in much the same way mice do. Two tiny rods of cartilage take shape on either side of the spine and parallel to it. The rods grow and fuse to the spine, and bone cells replace the cartilage.

Dr. Senevirathne and her colleagues figured that the human ilium had evolved from this ancient blueprint. They expected that in a human embryo each ilium would start as a rod of cartilage parallel to the spine; eventually it would stop growing in that direction and expand forward.

“Lo and behold, that’s not the case,” Dr. Capellini said. “It’s not a stepwise process. It’s actually a complete flip.”

The human ilium, the scientists were surprised to discover, starts as a rod perpendicular to the spine; one end points forward toward the belly, and the other points toward the back. The cartilage rod retains this orientation as it grows into the final shape of the ilium.

“That was really striking to us,” Dr. Capellini said. “Nowhere in the human body do you find a place where humans have just changed the way we grow altogether.”

Just as strikingly, Dr. Capellini and his colleagues found, our ilium employs the same network of genes that are active in ilium cells in mice; they just work differently.

In human embryos, ilium cells turn the genes on and off in a new pattern in response to molecules released by neighboring cells. The result is a rod of cartilage forming in a new direction.

Dr. Berthelot said that this hypothesis made sense. Other researchers have discovered that the evolution of other parts of the skeleton was driven by similar changes to existing genes. “There are not so many ways that you can change the shape of a bone,” she said.

Dr. Capellini and his colleagues argue that this flip was crucial to the evolution of bipedalism. It allowed early human ancestors to grow a new kind of pelvis that supported muscles strong enough for walking upright.

But the new study also suggests that the ilium underwent a second major change millions of years later, when humans evolved big brains. The scientists discovered that the ilium is slow to switch from cartilage to bone, lagging about 15 weeks behind the rest of the skeleton. “It’s a unique, radical shift,” Dr. Capellini said.

Dr. Capellini suspects that this shift occurred as the brains of early humans expanded about a million years ago. While a big brain likely boosted our ancestors’ mental powers, it also created new risks. The large heads of babies could get stuck in the birth canal. Natural selection favored new curves on the ilium that gave human mothers a rounder birth canal, which made deliveries easier.

Dr. Capellini’s team is eager to continue their research, to better understand the history of the pelvis and to learn how its evolution in humans made us vulnerable to certain disorders. But in May the Trump administration terminated billions of dollars of funding to Harvard, including the grant that supported the pelvis research. At the time, Dr. Capellini and his colleagues were only two years into a five-year project.

“We are all wondering what would have come next had we not lost this funding,” Dr. Capellini said.

Translation

揭開我們祖先直立行走的基因（2/2）

（繼續）

Senevirathne 博士和她的同事發現，靈長類動物的髂骨發育方式與小鼠非常相似。兩根細小的軟骨棒在脊椎兩側形成，並與其平行。這些軟骨棒生長並與脊椎融合，最終被骨細胞所取代。

Senevirathne 博士和她的同事認為，人類的髂骨正是從這古老藍圖演化而來的。他們原本預計，在人類胚胎中，每根髂骨最初都是一根與脊柱平行的軟骨棒；最終它會停止沿著該方向生長，並向前擴展。

Capellini 博士說: 「呵, 看看啊，事實並非如此」; 「這不是一個循序漸進的過程。實際上，這是一個完全的顛倒」。

科學家驚訝地發現，人類的髂骨原本是一根垂直於脊椎的軟骨棒；一端指向前方腹部，另一端指向背部。軟骨棒在最終生長成髂骨形狀的過程中，會保持這種方向。

Capellini博士說: 「這真的令我們非常震驚」;「在人體中，你找不到任何一個部位，會完全改變人類的共同生長方式」。

Capellini博士和他的同事發現，同樣令人驚訝的是，我們的髂骨所使用的基因網絡與小鼠髂骨細胞中活躍的基因網絡相同；它們只是運作方式不同。

在人類胚胎中，髂骨細胞會回應鄰近細胞釋放的分子，以新的模式開啟和關閉基因。結果是軟骨棒朝著新的方向形成。

Berthelot博士表示，這個假設是有道理的。其他研究人員發現，骨骼其他部分的演化也是由現有基因的類似變化所驅動的。她說: 「改變骨骼形狀的方法並不多」。

Capellini博士和他的同事認為，這種轉變對雙足動物的演化至關重要。它使得早期人類祖先能夠發育出一種新型的骨盆，支撐著足以直立行走的肌肉。

但這項新研究也表明，髂骨在數百萬年後經歷了第二次重大變化，當時人類進化出了更大的大腦。科學家發現，髂骨從軟骨到骨骼的轉變過程較為緩慢，比骨骼的其他部分晚了約15週。Capellini 博士說: 「這是一種獨特而徹底的轉變」。

Capellini博士推測，這種轉變發生在大約一百萬年前早期人類大腦擴張的過程中。雖然較大的大腦可能增強了我們祖先的智力，但也帶來了新的風險。嬰兒的大頭可能會卡在產道裡。自然選擇有利於髂骨呈現新的曲線，使人類母親的產道更圓潤，更容易分娩。

Capellini博士的團隊渴望繼續他們的研究，以便更好地了解骨盆的歷史，並探討其在人類中的進化如何使我們更容易患上某些不正常毛病。但今年5月，特朗普政府終止了對哈佛大學的數十億美元資助，其中包括支持骨盆研究的撥款。當時，Capellini博士和他的同事們才完成了為期五年的計劃的兩年。

Capellini博士說: 「我們都在想，如果我們沒有失去這筆資金，接下來會做些什麼」。

              So, scientists have suggested that our early ancestors became bipeds as old genes started doing new things. Some genes became active in novel places in the human embryo, while others turned on and off at different times. But in May the Trump administration terminated billions of dollars of funding to Harvard, including the grant that supported the pelvis research. It is a pity if this research will be stopped due to lack of funding. Apparent, apart from economic power and military might, leading the world in the field of scientific research is also a factor that makes the Americans great.

Note:

1. Natural selection (自然選擇)is a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology that describes the process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to reproduce, leading to the gradual evolution of species.

揭開我們祖先直立行走的基因（1/2）

 Recently the New York Times picked up the following:

Source: The NYT

Uncovering the Genes That Let Our Ancestors Walk Upright (1/2)

A new study reveals some of the crucial molecular steps on the path to bipedalism.

Origins -By Carl Zimmer who covers news about science for The Times and writes the Origins column.

Aug. 27, 2025

Charles Darwin unveiled his theory of evolution in 1859, in “On the Origin of Species.” But it took him another 12 years to work up the courage to declare that humans evolved, too.

In “The Descent of Man,” published in 1871, Darwin argued that humans arose from apes. And one of the most profound changes they underwent was turning into upright walkers.

“Man alone has become a biped,” Darwin wrote. Bipedalism, he declared, was one of humanity’s “most conspicuous characters.”

Scientists have now discovered some of the crucial molecular steps that led to that conspicuous character millions of years ago. A study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday suggests that our early ancestors became bipeds, as old genes started doing new things. Some genes became active in novel places in the human embryo, while others turned on and off at different times.

Scientists have long recognized that a key feature for walking upright is a bone called the ilium. It’s the biggest bone in the pelvis; when you put your hand on your hip, that’s the ilium you feel.

The left and right ilium are both fused to the base of the spine. Each ilium sweeps around the waist to the front of the belly, creating a bowllike shape. Many of the leg muscles we use in walking are anchored to the ilium. The bone also supports the pelvic floor, a network of muscles that acts like a basket for our inner organs when we stand up.

As vital as the ilium is to everyday life, the bone can also be a source of suffering. The ilium can flare up with arthritis, grow brittle in old age, especially in women, and fracture from a fall. Genetic disorders can deform it, making walking difficult. The ilium also forms much of the birth canal — where babies can sometimes get stuck, endangering the mother’s life.

And yet, as important as the ilium is to us, its development has long been a mystery. “It’s remarkable to me,” said Terence Capellini, a developmental geneticist at Harvard. “The ilium is essential to how we walk and how we give birth, and yet very little is known about it.”

Dr. Capellini and his colleagues embarked on an intensive study of the bone. As part of the research, Gayani Senevirathne, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard, examined human fetal tissue from a University of Washington repository. Dr. Senevirathne created three-dimensional models of the human ilium as it developed in embryos. She also analyzed the different types of cells that combine to form the bone, as well as the genes that switch on and off inside those cells.

She then did similar experiments on mice, dissecting their embryos and analyzing the cells in the developing ilium. Comparing the two species, she gathered some clues about how our own ilium evolved.

But there were limits to what mice could tell her, since they are only distantly related to humans. To get a better sense of what sort of ilium early humans inherited, Dr. Senevirathne needed to look at primates.

She reached out to museums across the United States and Europe to see if they had any primate specimens. She tracked down embryos of chimpanzees, gibbons and other species preserved in jars, and arranged for museum curators to scan them for her.

One day on her quest for material, she left Boston before dawn and drove to the American Museum of Natural History in New York. There, she loaded the car with crates of 100-year-old glass slides, each preserving a slice of a lemur embryo. Then she drove right back home.

“I was worried that we’d get pulled over by the police,” Dr. Senevirathne said. “But it was definitely worth it. We actually needed that material to complete our story.”

All told, the researchers studied 18 different species of primates. “The fact that they assembled so many embryonic samples was really impressive,” said Camille Berthelot, an evolutionary geneticist at the Pasteur Institute in Paris who was not involved in the study.

(to be continued)

揭開我們祖先直立行走的基因（1/2）

一項新研究揭示了雙足行走過程中一些關鍵的分子步驟。

達爾文於1859年在《物種起源》中提出了他的進化論。但他又花了12年才鼓起勇氣宣佈人類也進化。

在1871年出版的《人類的由來》中，達爾文認為人類起源於猿類。而他們經歷的最深刻的變化之一就是變成了直立行走的動物。

達爾文寫道: 「只有人類變成了兩足動物」。他宣稱，雙足行走是人類「最顯著的特徵」之一。

科學家們如今發現了數百萬年前導致這一顯著特徵的一些關鍵分子步驟。週三發表在《自然》雜誌上的一項研究表明，隨著舊基因開始產生新的功能, 我們的早期祖先變成了兩足動物。有些基因在人類胚胎的新位置变得活躍，而有些基因則在不同的時間開啟和關閉。

科學家早已認識到，直立行走的一個關鍵特徵是髂骨。它是骨盆中最大的骨頭；當你把手放在臀部時，你感覺到的就是髂骨。

左右髂骨都與脊椎底部融合。每塊髂骨繞過腰部，延伸至腹部前方，形成碗狀。我們行走時使用的許多腿部肌肉都固定在髂骨上。髂骨也支撐著骨盆底肌肉網絡，當我們站立時，骨盆底肌肉網絡就像一個籃子，容納我們體內的器官。

髂骨對日常生活至關重要，但它也可能帶來疼痛。髂骨會因關節炎發作，在老年時（尤其是女性）會變得脆弱，跌倒後會導致骨折。遺傳性疾病會導致髂骨變形，使行走困難。髂骨也構成了產道的大部分 - 嬰兒有時會卡在那裡，危及母親的生命。

然而，儘管髂骨對我們至關重要，但它的發育長期以來一直是個謎。哈佛大學發育遺傳學家Terence Capellini 說: 「它對我來說意義非凡」; 「髂骨對於我們行走和分娩至關重要，但人們對它的了解卻少之又少」。

Capellini 博士和他的同事們對髂骨進行了深入研究。作為研究的一部分，哈佛大學博士後研究員Gayani Senevirathne 檢查了華盛頓大學儲存庫中的人類胎兒組織。Senevirathne 博士創建了人類髂骨在胚胎中發育的三維模型。她也分析了構成骨骼的不同類型的細胞，以及這些細胞內的開啟和關閉的基因。

隨後，她對小鼠進行了類似的實驗，解剖了它們的胚胎，並分析了發育中髂骨的細胞。透過比較這兩個物種，她收集了一些關於我們自身髂骨演化的線索。

但由於小鼠與人類的親緣關係較遠，因此它們能提供的線索有限。為了更了解早期人類遺傳了哪一種髂骨，Senevirathne 博士需要看看靈長類動物。

她聯繫了美國和歐洲各地的博物館，看看它們是否有靈長類動物標本。她找到了保存在罐子裡的黑猩猩、長臂猿和其他物種的胚胎，並安排博物館館長為她掃描這些胚胎。

有一天，為了尋找資料，她在黎明前離開波士頓，開車前往紐約的美國自然史博物館。在那裡，她把一箱箱有百年歷史的玻璃幻燈片裝上車，每箱載玻片都保存著一片狐猴胚胎。然後她直接開車回家。

Senevirathne博士說: 「我擔心我們會被警察攔下來」; 「但這絕對值得。我們確實需要這些材料來完成我們的故事」。

總而言之, 研究人員研究了18種不同的靈長類動物。沒有參與這項研究的巴黎巴斯德研究所的進化遺傳學家 Camille Berthelot 說道: 「他們收集瞭如此多的胚胎樣本，真是令人印象深刻」。

（待續）

In China a genetically modified pig lung transplanted into a brain-dead man and functioned for nine days

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

遺伝子改変ブタの肺を脳死男性に移植、９日間機能　中国

2025.08.27 Wed posted at 17:01 JST

（ＣＮＮ） 遺伝子を改変したブタの肺が脳死状態の男性に移植され、９日間機能したことが分かった。新たに発表された報告書で明らかになった。

近年、ブタの腎臓や心臓を人間に移植する試みはいくつか成功しているが、ブタの肺を人間に移植する試みはこれが初めてとみられる。医師たちは将来、臓器を必要とする人々にとってこれが選択肢となることを期待しているが、専門家はすぐには実現しないと指摘している。

中国の広州医科大学附属第１病院の研究者らは、この研究で患者の身元を特定せず、脳出血で脳死と診断された３９歳の男性としている。医師らは男性の家族の同意を得た上で、ブタの肺を移植した。この研究結果は２５日、ネイチャー・メディシン誌に掲載された。

ヒトからヒトへの移植、あるいは動物からヒトへの移植（異種移植とも呼ばれる）では、医師は感染や拒絶反応を注意深く監視する。

患者は感染と拒絶反応のリスクを軽減するため、複数の薬剤を投与された。肺自体にも６回の遺伝子編集が施され、ドナーのブタは生涯を通じて極めて清潔で厳格に管理された区域で飼育されていた。

この研究で、研究者らは移植後すぐに拒絶反応の兆候は見られなかったものの、わずか１日後には問題が生じたと報告している。

具体的には男性の体全体に広範囲に腫れが生じ、組織内に体液が蓄積した。これは血流障害が原因と考えられる。肺は呼吸を助けるだけでなく、血液循環にも重要な役割を果たしている。

移植後数日で部分的に回復の兆しは見られたものの、あらゆる予防措置にもかかわらず、医師らは男性の体が臓器を拒絶し始めている兆候を確認した。

男性の家族の要請を受け、医師らは実験を中止した。

「この研究はブタからヒトへの肺の異種移植の実現可能性を実証するものの、臓器の拒絶反応と感染に関する大きな課題は依然として残っている」と、研究者らは新たな研究論文の中で述べている。その上で、この処置を臨床試験で再度実施する前に、さらなる研究が必要だと結論付けた。

世界には臓器移植の莫大（ばくだい）な需要がある。米国だけでも、２０２３年にはすべての臓器移植の待機リストが、完了した移植件数の２倍に達していた。

昨年、米国では４万８０００件以上の移植手術が行われたが、待機リストに登録されている人は１０万３０００人以上に上る。連邦保健資源事業局（ＨＲＳＡ）によると、米国では毎日約１３人が移植を待つ間に亡くなっている。

ブタの弁は過去３０年間、人間に移植されてきた。臓器移植はより複雑だが、遺伝子改変ブタの心臓と腎臓では限定的ながら成功事例が医師によって確認されている。遺伝子改変ブタの肝臓の移植も試みられたが、少なくとも現時点で、成功率は低いままとなっている。

これまでのところ最も成功したのは米マサチューセッツ州の男性で、今年１月にマサチューセッツ総合病院で遺伝子改変ブタの腎臓を移植され、現在も生きている。

ニューヨーク大学ランゴーン移植研究所に籍を置く移植外科医、アダム・グリースマー博士は、今回ブタの肺が機能した日数の短さに触れつつ、肺移植の成功に向けた一段の研究の重要性を強調した。

Translation

In China a genetically modified pig lung transplanted into a brain-dead man and functioned for nine days

(CNN) A genetically modified pig lung was transplanted into a brain-dead man and functioned for nine days, according to a newly published report.

While there had been several successful attempts to transplant pig kidneys and hearts into humans in recent years, this was believed to be the first attempt to transplant a pig lung into human. Doctors hoped this could become an option for people in need of organs in the future, but experts warned that it won't happen anytime soon.

Researchers at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in China, without identifying the patient in the study, described him as a 39-year-old man who had been diagnosed with brain death due to a cerebral hemorrhage. Doctors transplanted a pig lung with the man's family's consent. The results of the study were published in Nature Medicine on the 25th.

During human-to-human or animal-to-human transplants (also known as xenotransplants), doctors closely monitored for infection and rejection.

The patient received multiple medications to reduce the risk of infection and rejection. The lung itself underwent six gene edits, and the donor pig was kept in an extremely clean, strictly controlled area throughout it live.

In this study, researchers reported that while there were no signs of rejection immediately after the transplant, it was reported that problems arose just one day later.

Specifically, the man experienced widespread swelling throughout his body and fluid accumulation in his tissues, this was likely due to impaired blood flow. Lungs not only helped with breathing but also played a vital role in blood circulation.

Although he showed signs of partial recovery a few days after the transplant, despite all precautions, doctors observed signs that his body was beginning to reject the organ.

At the request of the man's family, doctors stopped the experiment.

"While this study demonstrates the feasibility of pig-to-human lung xenotransplantation, significant challenges related to organ rejection and infection remain," the researchers wrote in their new study. Furthermore, they concluded that further research was needed before the procedure would be repeated in clinical trials.

There was a huge global demand for organ transplants. In the United States alone, in 2023 the waiting list for all organ transplants was twice the number of completed transplants.

Last year, more than 48,000 transplant surgeries were performed in the United States, with more than 103,000 people on the waiting list. According to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), approximately 13 people die each day in the United States while waiting for a transplant.

Pig valves had been transplanted into humans for the past 30 years. While organ transplants were more complex, doctors had seen limited success with genetically modified pig hearts and kidneys. Transplants of genetically modified pig livers had also been attempted, but the success rate remained low, at least for the time being.

The most successful case to date was a Massachusetts man who received a kidney from a genetically modified pig at Massachusetts General Hospital in January of this year and was still alive.

Dr. Adam Griesmer, a transplant surgeon at New York University's Langone Transplant Institute, while mentioning the short period of time the pig's lungs functioned in this case, emphasized the importance of further research for successful lung transplants.

So, in China a genetically modified pig lung was transplanted into a brain-dead man and functioned for nine days. Apparently, while this study demonstrates the feasibility of pig-to-human lung xenotransplantation, significant challenges related to organ rejection and infection remain and further research is needed in order to be successful.

彭博社正努力解決香港記者簽證拒簽問題

Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

Bloomberg working to resolve visa denial for Hong Kong journalist

Reporting by Reuters Staff, Editing by William Maclean

Sat, August 23, 2025 at 6:27 a.m. PDT

2 min read

(Reuters) -Bloomberg said on Saturday it was working to resolve the situation of a correspondent in Hong Kong whose visa renewal application was turned down by authorities in the Asian financial hub.

Hong Kong declined to extend the visa of Bloomberg journalist Rebecca Choong Wilkins without explanation, according to a post from the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) which Wilkins confirmed as accurate to Reuters on Saturday.

While Bloomberg said in a statement it does not comment on individual cases, it said it fully supports Wilkins and will "continue to work through the appropriate avenues to try to resolve the matter."

When asked to comment on Wilkins' visa situation, a spokesperson for Hong Kong’s Immigration Department said in a statement it does not comment on individual cases and says applicants have to "meet the eligibility criteria".

Industry watchdogs say China has been eroding press freedoms in Hong Kong since it was returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997. Local journalists have faced detention and harassment, while some foreign reporters have been denied entry or visas, often without reason.

Media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders said nine journalists have had visa issues with Hong Kong authorities since the enactment of a national security law in 2020, leading to a fall in the city's ranking in a global press freedom index to 140th out of 180 countries and territories.

Wilkins, who had worked in Hong Kong for six years, was most recently a reporter on the Asia government and economy team at Bloomberg.

"This decision and the lack of explanation reinforces widespread concerns about the erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong, which is protected under the Basic Law and the Bill of Rights," said the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club in its post on Friday.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association said numbers of denials of visa applications by major foreign media are more than have been publicly reported, according to a post from Selina Cheng, the association's chairperson.

Hong Kong denies it curbs press freedoms.

Translation

彭博社正努力解決香港記者簽證拒簽問題

（路透社）- 彭博社週六表示，正在努力解決其一名駐香港記者的簽證續簽申請被香港當局拒絕的問題。

據香港外國記者協會（FCC）的一篇文章稱，香港拒絕為彭博社記者 Rebecca Choong Wilkins 延長簽證，且未給出任何解釋。 Wilkins 週六向路透社證實了消息的真實性。

彭博社在聲明中表示，它不對個案發表評論，但表示全力支持 Wilkins，並將「繼續透過適當途徑努力解決此事」。

當被問及對 Wilkins簽證情況的評論時，香港入境事務處發言人在一份聲明中表示，該處不對個案發表評論，並表示申請人必須「符合資格標準」。

業介監管機構表示，自1997年香港從英國回歸中國以來，中國一直在侵蝕香港的新聞自由。香港記者面臨拘留和騷擾，而一些外國記者則被拒絕入境或獲得簽證，而且往往毫無理由。

媒體倡議組織「無國界記者」表示，自2020年國家安全法頒佈以來，已有9名記者與香港當局發生簽證問題，導致香港在全球新聞自由指數中的排名下降至180個國家和地區中的第140位。

Wilkins 曾在香港工作六年，最近期是擔任彭博社亞洲政府和經濟團隊的記者。

香港外國記者協會在周五的帖子中表示： “這項決定以及缺乏解釋，加劇了人們對香港新聞自由受到侵蝕的普遍擔憂，而香港新聞自由是根據《基本法》和《人權法案》受到保護的。”

香港記者協會主席 Selina Cheng 在貼文中表示，主要外國媒體被拒簽證申請的數量遠高於被公開報道的數量。

香港否認它限制新聞自由。

 So, Bloomberg was working to resolve the situation of a correspondent in Hong Kong whose visa renewal application was turned down by authorities in Hong Kong without explanation. It is shocking to note that since the enactment of a national security law in Hong Kong in 2020, the city's ranking in a global press freedom index fall to 140th out of 180 countries and territories.

消息人士稱，亞洲開發銀行將資助巴基斯坦鐵路升級，因中國融資停滯

Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

ADB to back Pakistan rail upgrade as China financing stalls, sources say

Reuters - By Saeed Shah and Ariba Shahid

Fri, August 22, 2025 at 6:06 a.m. PDT

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -The Asian Development Bank will fund upgrades to part of Pakistan's creaking railway system, replacing China, after prolonged delays in securing financing from Beijing threatened to put a strain on a strategic mining project, two sources said on Friday.

An extensive revamp of 1,800 km (1,118 miles) of railways has been the centrepiece of a $60 billion Chinese investment programme in Pakistan announced in 2015 as part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative global infrastructure push.

A decade of negotiations, however, have yet to produce a finance package for the rail upgrades - the single biggest project under the programme with China. And Pakistan is, meanwhile, struggling to repay Chinese debt owed for other projects.

The ADB is in advanced talks to lead the financing of a $2 billion upgrade of a 500-km stretch of the railway line from Karachi to Rohri in the country's south that had previously been part of the Chinese project, two sources with direct knowledge of the discussions told Reuters.

The upgrade has become urgent, they said, as it is needed to transport copper ore from the Reko Diq mine currently being developed by Canada's Barrick Mining Corp.

"We will have a crisis. How will you evacuate output from Reko Diq? The exhausted line will come under even more pressure," one of the sources, a senior government official, said.

There was no immediate comment from Pakistan's railways ministry or China's foreign ministry.

The ADB would not confirm the finance package, which is being reported for the first time by Reuters. But it said Pakistan's government and the regional lender "have regular discussions on railway sector development".

"Any potential ADB assistance would be subject to comprehensive due diligence and consideration under ADB's policies and procedures before any commitment is made," it wrote in a statement to Reuters.

The deal, expected to be announced later this month, would see the ADB lead a consortium to finance the project and bring in an international engineering contractor to carry out the work through a competitive bidding process, the sources said.

The ADB announced $410 million in financing for the Reko Diq mine itself earlier this week. And its president is due to visit Islamabad next week, the sources said.

 

CHINA AND PAKISTAN: 'IRONCLAD FRIENDS'?

The sources said the plan is diplomatically tricky but has been squared with China.

"We would never do anything to jeopardise that relationship," the senior Pakistani official said.

China rolled out major power and infrastructure projects after the 2015 launch of the investment programme, known locally as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. But momentum has stalled, with the last big project - the Gwadar East Bay Expressway - inaugurated in 2022.

Islamabad has fallen behind on payments for electricity generated by Chinese-built power plants. And following a government report looking at the cost of the power stations, Islamabad has for the past year sought to reschedule debt payments for the plants.

"China and Pakistan are ironclad friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners," China's foreign ministry said on August 19, ahead of a visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Islamabad this week.

In Wang's meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, both sides said they sought to deepen ties and move on to the next phase of CPEC.

 

PAKISTAN'S MINING AMBITIONS

The Reko Diq copper and gold mine - at the heart of the government's strategy to attract investment to Pakistan's mining sector - is due to enter production in 2028 with anticipated annual output of some 200,000 metric ton of copper concentrate.

One of the world's largest untapped copper deposits, it is Pakistan's largest foreign investment in recent years.

The ADB-financed rail upgrade would modernise the track and bridges from the commercial capital Karachi north to Rohri, close to the city of Sukkur, so that diesel trains can run faster, the sources said.

In Rohri, the line will meet a branch coming from the area of the Reko Diq mine and will carry the copper concentrate to port.

Tim Cribb, Reko Diq's project director, told Reuters that the government and Barrick would work together on securing financing for the upgrading of the branch coming from the west to Rohri.

The mine also faces security concerns, as it lies in the insurgency-hit western province of Balochistan, with militants frequently targeting the rail network.

Translation

消息人士稱，亞洲開發銀行將資助巴基斯坦鐵路升級，因中國融資停滯

伊斯蘭堡（路透社） - 兩位消息人士週五稱，亞洲開發銀行將取代中國，為巴基斯坦部分老舊鐵路系統的升級提供資金，此前，巴基斯坦未能獲得北京方面的融資，可能給一項戰略性採礦項目帶來壓力。

2015年，中國宣布將在巴基斯坦投資600億美元，作為「一帶一路」全球基礎建設的一部分，該項目的核心內容是對1800公里（1118英里）鐵路進行大規模改造。

然而，經過十年的談判，鐵路升級項目仍未達成融資方案 - 這是與中國合作的最大单一項目。與此同時，巴基斯坦還在努力償還中國因其他項目所欠下的債務。

兩位直接了解談判情況的消息人士告訴路透社，亞洲開發銀行 (ADB)正就牽頭融資20億美元升級巴基斯坦南部卡拉奇至羅裡一段500公里鐵路線進行深入談判，該鐵路線此前曾是中國項目的一部分。

他們表示，升級工作已刻不容緩，因為需要運送 Reko Diq 礦場的銅礦石，目前由加拿大 Barrick礦業公司開發。

其中一位消息人士，一位高級政府官員說: 「我們將面臨危機。如何從 Reko Diq 送出出產？這條疲憊不堪的線路將面臨更大的壓力」。

巴基斯坦鐵道部和中國外交部均未立即發表評論。

亞洲開發銀行不願證實路透社首次通報的融資方案。但亞洲開發銀行表示，巴基斯坦政府和亞洲開發銀行「正在就鐵路產業發展進行定期討論」。

亞銀在給路透社的聲明中寫道： “任何潛在的銀行援助都將根據其政策和程序進行全面的盡職調查和考量，之後才會做出任何承諾。”

消息人士稱，該協議預計將於本月稍後宣布，由亞銀牽頭一個財團為該項目提供融資，並透過競爭性招標程序引入一家國際工程承包商來實施該項目。

亞銀本週稍早宣布將為 Reko Diq 礦提供4.1億美元的融資。消息人士稱，亞銀行長將於下週訪問伊斯蘭堡。

 

中國和巴基斯坦：「鐵甲般堅實朋友」?

消息人士稱，該計劃在外交上頗具技巧，但已與中國達成和解。

這位巴基斯坦高級官員表示: 「我們絕對不會做任何危及兩國關係的事情」。

自2015年啟動這項在當地被稱為「中巴經濟走廊」(CPEC) 的投資計劃以來，中國展開了多項大型電力和基礎設施項目。然而，隨著最後一個大型計劃 - 瓜達爾東灣高速公路 - 於2022年正式通車，這股勢頭已停顿。

伊斯蘭堡一直拖欠中國建造的發電廠的電費。在一份政府報告審查了這些發電站的成本後，伊斯蘭堡在過去一年裡一直試圖重組這些電廠的債務償還。

在外交部長王毅本週將訪問伊斯蘭堡之前, 中國外交部於8月19日表示：「中巴是鐵甲般堅實朋友和全天候戰略合作夥伴」。

週四，王毅在與巴基斯坦總理謝里夫的會晤中表示，雙方均表示，希望深化兩國關係，並推動中巴經濟走廊 (CPEC)下一階段的建設。

 

巴基斯坦的礦業雄心

Reko Diq 銅金礦是巴基斯坦政府吸引礦業投資策略的核心，預計2028年投產，預計年產銅精礦約20萬噸。

Reko Diq 礦場是世界上最大的未開發銅礦床之一，也是巴基斯坦近年來最大的外國投資。

消息人士稱，由亞銀資助的鐵路升級項目將對從商業首都卡拉奇北部到 Sukkur市附近的 Rohri 的鐵路和橋樑進行現代化改造，以提高柴油列車的運行速度。

在 Rohri，這條鐵路將與一條來自 Reko Diq 礦區的支線匯合，並將銅精礦運往港口。

Reko Diq 專案總監 Tim Cribb 告訴路透社，政府將與 Barrick 合作，為從西部通往 Rohri 的支線升級項目爭取融資。

該礦也面臨安全問題，因為它位於叛亂猖獗的西部省份 Balochistan，武裝分子經常襲擊鐵路網。

 So, the Asian Development Bank will replace China in providing funds to upgrade part of Pakistan's aging railway system. Previously, China has rolled out major power and infrastructure projects known locally as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, but momentum is stalled now. Currently, Islamabad has fallen behind on payments for electricity generated by Chinese-built power plants and is trying to reschedule debt payments for the plants. I am wondering why China is not willing to continue to support the upgrading of the railway system. Apparently, money is a concern.